Laurie LaRose Creative Stampin' Up! Projects

Saturday, February 22, 2014

It's been a whirlwind of tv watching for me these past 16 days...From the Opening Ceremonies to Canada's first Olympic medals. Posting on facebook, along with everyone else, our heros.
...at times it was almost too much to keep track of for me, with the time difference and the Prime Time vs Real time, the Qualification runs, or "are these the finals" and "Have I seen some part of this heat yet!?" moments. Hours of watching. First the Team Skating and then so many of the programmes again for the individual events. Watching many of the speed skating, skiing and snowboarding events, run after run, and the decision between first and twentieth being about 2 seconds! Amazing to me. A few more hours of the finale of the Skating Gala tonight. My Canadian pride as the Canadians came together and joined hands together at the end to take their final bow! Classy!
Earlier this week, I posted one facebook status that I might need to train more for the next Olympics to have the stamina to sit for so much time in front of the television! I found it quite exhausting : D

I had an eye doctor appointment one of the first days and I told him he might need to give me some disposable contacts to make it through the special features and all the touching commercials that were making me cry! (in case you're not a contact wearer...crying leaves salt deposits on the lenses making them pretty uncomfortable pretty quickly!) He told me I'd be tired of them by the end..and there are a couple I'm almost done with! My Youngest learns a whole new repertoire of songs during the Olympics...
commercials are her absolute favourite part of any television programme!
Last Olympics, I made some fun cards with Olympic rings, ice skaters and featuring a great set Stampin'Up! had that year! I even had an Olympic themed kids class. As my kids get older, I keep saying it gets busier..and this year's Olympics are further proof of it, as I crafted none of that...
I did have a few classes and the gals had fun discussing their favourite moments as they put together some cute cards.

This wonderful card that one of my gals created from my card, changing up the colours.

and a version of this little Valentine I gave my Oldest.

Lots of good ideas while playing with all the great new sets and tools in the Occasions catalogue . Lots of the new stuff blends well with some of the classic sets from the Annual catalogue. Who doesn't love the Gorgeous Grunge set? and a favourite of mine is the Tape It set.
With Sale-a-Bration in full swing its a great time to pick up a few classic things from your wish list and earn a few of the wonderful free items in the little brochure !

With the Olympics wrapping up, I'm planning on harnessing some of the inspiring dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence by these greatest Athletes to achieve greatness myself! Initially, in the Little Things because:

Monday, February 3, 2014

I enjoyed an interview with a lovely lady, today, a fellow stamper, who has given me some good food for thought over the next few days. She is a natural teacher and even as she was just speaking about herself and her hobbies, she reminded me of an inspirational speaker in the way they tell stories to draw parrallels on how to achieve greatness in life and business. I'm looking forward to writing up the article about her and potentially doing a second part for everyone to benefit from her wisdom and coaching!
I have volunteered over the past several months as a writer for a Newsletter for Canadian Stampin'Up! demonstrators. (this is subject for a whole other post, as I am not a natural writer and this has stretched me, a challenge I took on because I have always thought I'd like to develop this skill.) I have met and been inspired by all the women I talked with. The scope of what they have accomplished and the lives they have touched is remarkable. Our theme this past Convention was to Be the Difference!
Our newsletter team asked Canadians to nominate demos that had been a difference in others lives. Whether the nominees touched one person's life or a multitude, all of them are amazing: volunteering in so many ways, helping to fundraise, helping out with the Calgary flood victims, helping stop someone's lifelong habit of smoking, knitting caps for chemo patients, giving thoughtful gifts, putting people at ease and sharing the rewards of adding creativity into other's lives.
I almost preferred writing about the ones that took ordinary moments to be the Difference in people's lives where they could ~ these examples made me sit up straighter and think "I could do that/ I can do that/ I will do that".
Happy to say, I have consciously tried to do some of these simple acts throughout December and January. Like sending off a couple extra cards, making a comment on someone's gallery, random acts of kindness for strangers: buying a coffee for the next guy in the drive thru at Tim Horton's, while buying one for my daughter's teacher! That was a good day : D (two for one, really!)
These things might not be life changing, but you never know how a smile to a stranger, a call to a friend, a helpful hand, or a donation will change the chain of events. You might not feel like you're changing the world but you may be the Difference for one person...

Brings to mind this little story:

and I loved this image as a simple reminder:

Mother Teresa has quotes along this line, too. Of her many fabulous quotes...which is your favourite?

Looking quickly at Google, I see so many great words by her. Share one of the one that you like best. I'll share mine after checking a few out on the internet this week and get back to you with mine.

smiles,

Laurie

P.S. Funny I started this post with an entirely different quote in mind to talk about...find out which one, next week!

Sunday, February 2, 2014

...and indeed we had fun celebrating Chinese New Year's a few days ago with decorations and a yummy stirfry!

...but even more so, I'm planning on relaunching into my blog with a series of posts called Winter Wonder! All part of inviting you along with me in a celebration of the Winter months, the snowy weather and the delights that the cold days can bring, indoors and out!
An effort to live with intention every day and incorporate creativity to bring joy into each day.

I'll be:

finding Favourite quotes,

counting daily blessings,

making a menu plan (!? Really?!),

trying new recipes,

taking photos,

starting some sort of Pocket Page scrapbooking,

journaling and storytelling

reading more,

orgainizing closets, drawers and decluttering,

sending more notes and cards to friends and family

keeping up with my 3 year Once a Day book

crafting more

projects with the kids

Not sure how I'm going to organize it all into entries or daily life, but lets see how it takes shape over the coming weeks. I've always liked the way so many blog personalities have a certain theme for each day. Flashback Fridays, Technique Tuesdays, Thorny Thursdays strike that, what would that be exactly, I wonder? but with so many ideas to develop...it might have to be on more than a weekly rotation.

Of course, I am a Stamper, too, so there will be more photos of things I'm working on...for classes and the cards I'm planning to send! I also attended Leadership again this year for Stampin'Up! and joined a couple swaps, so I'll share some of those cards with you, too. Fun little 3 x 3 cards are a favourite of mine!
With Valentine's on the way, I made a banner for the entryway ~ and to teach in a couple classes.

We had a wonderful day yesterday putting together a couple of them for the ladies to take home.

Tomorrow, I think I'll make a bit of a list of To-Do's ~ they seem to help organize my time and I've always liked to cross things off of them, very satisfying!

(have you ever added things onto your list that you've already completed that day just to check it off?)

Shop for all the Fun things!

The Act of Stamping

About Me

I'm so thrilled you're here! If only we could all hang out in real life, sharing what makes us giggle and what makes us grieve. Different days bring out different traits in me! I am married to a wonderful guy, we have 3 daughters and we live on a Bison Farm ~ today we rounded up 30 of them and I was a full time farmer! Other days, I am a mother, a crafter, I am a Stampin'Up! demonstrator, a volunteer, or a teacher etc. I happily can say, I love my life. Join me here and on Pinterest to traipse through life, enjoying the little everyday moments!

I am Laurie LaRose an independent Stampin Up! Demonstrator from Alberta, Canada and I am solely responsible for this blog. Stampin Up! does not endorse the use of this blog or it's contents.

All items on this blog including text, photographs, concept design, works of original artwork and content shared on this blog are for your personal use, inspiration and enjoyment only and may not be copied for publication or contest submission. Thank you.